Apparatus for filling cartons and the like with objects,for example bottles

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for filling containers of foldable material, more particularly cartons, with groups of objects, for example bottles, the bottom of the carton comprising bottom flaps which may be folded into the bottom plane and are preferably glued to each other wherein the carton, which is open at least at the bottom, is driven from above over a group of the objects to surround same and the bottom flaps are then pivoted into the plane of the bottom.

United States Patent Focke et a1.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CARTONS AND THE LIKE WITH OBJECTS, FOR EXAMPLEBOTTLES Inventors: Heinz-Hermann Focke; Kurt Willy Liedtke, both ofVerden/Aller, Germany Focke & Pfuhl, Verdcn/Aller, Germany Filed: Feb.27, 1973 Appl. No; 336,131

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 28, 1972 Germany 2209370 U.S. Cl53/186, 53/242, 53/374 Int. Cl..... B65b 21/06, B65b 43/30, B65b 7/20Field of Search 53/186, 242, 374

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1958 Schroeder 53/186 [451 Oct.22, 1974 3.645,068 2/1972 Langen 53/186 3,673,764 7/1972 Bell 53/3743,698,151 10/1972 Arneson.... 53/242 X 3,751,872 8/1973 Helms 53/242 X3,757,486 9/1973 Feurston et a1 53/242 X 3,762,129 10/1973 Salomon53/242 X 3,805,484 4/1974 Rossi 53/242 X Primary Examiner-Robert L.Spruill Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak[57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for filling containers of foldablematerial, more particularly cartons, with groups of objects, for examplebottles, the bottom of the carton comprising bottom flaps which may befolded into the bottom plane and are preferably glued to' each otherwherein the carton, which is open at least at the bottom, is driven fromabove over a group of the objects to surround same and the bottom flapsare then pivoted into the plane of the bottom.

17 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIEN 15mm 22514 SHEET '4 BF 5 R EkAPPARATUS FOR FILLING CARTONS AND THE LIKE WITH OBJECTS, FOR EXAMPLEBOTTLES The invention relates to a method and apparatus for fillingcontainers of foldable material, more particularly cartons, with groupsof objects, for example bottles, the bottom of the carton comprisingbottom flaps which may be folded into the bottom plane and arepreferably glued to each other.

In practice cartons were hitherto filled with bottles or similar objectsby a group of such bottles being introduced in its entirety from aboveinto the carton which is open at the top. This method has severaldisadvantages. Firstly, the basic idea of this packaging system ofmoving relatively heavy filling material, namely the bottles, relativeto the carton which is stationary or is transported in only one plane,namely by lowering such bottles into the said carton, is unfavorablebecause a greater expenditure in terms of machinery is naturallyrequired for introducing the groups of bottles. In addition it isnaturally not simple to simultaneously grip a group comprising aplurality of individual objects which are not connected to each other,for example bottles, and to introduce them together into the openpackage. Finally, introducing the objects into the carton causes thecarton while to damage or even remove the labels usually provided on theoutwardly disposed objects during the lowering motion.

It is the object of the invention to simplify the filling of cartons andsimilar containers with groups of bottles, jars and the like by a novelmethod and by apparatus for performing this method. The previouslymentioned disadvantages are to be particularly avoided thereby.

The method according to the invention for solving this problem ischaracterised in that the carton, which is open at least at the bottom,is driven from above over a group of the objects to surround same andthe bottom flaps are then pivoted into the plane of the bottom.

The invention therefore departs from the conventional packagingprinciple namely by an open carton being driven over the objects, forexample bottles disposed in the appropriate configuration, the saidcarton being inverted over said objects and then being closed bypivoting of the bottom flaps. Accordingly, it is therefore merelynecessary to move the carton which has a relatively low dead weightwhile the bottlevgroup remains immovably or is conveyed on a flatconveying track during the filling operation. The empty carton or thecarton blank which is unfolded into a sleeve can be more readilymanipulated by mechanical means than a group of individual objectshaving a large dead weight. It has also been found that lowering theopen carton on to the group of bottles does not cause the labels of theoutwardly disposed bottles being damaged or even torn off.

The inventive filling of the cartons may be performed continuously orintermittently. In the intermittent process the bottle groups which areto be filled into the cartons are disposed on a filling platform onwhich the open carton is lowered. The bottom flap which trails in theconveying direction and projects downwardly is folded against the bottomof the bottles or against a movable supporting part of the fillingplatform in the zone thereof while the bottom flap which leads in theconveying direction and the two lateral bottom flaps are folded againstthe bottom side of the bottles or the like during the ensuing conveyingmotion or during transportation respectively.

In continuous operation the cartons or carton blanks which are unfoldedinto a sleeve are synchronised by suitable conveying means with thegroups of bottles or the like and are lowered from above on to the saidbottles while these are conveyed.

Further details of the invention will be explained hereinbelow byreference to embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which FIG. 1 is a transverse or side view respectively ofone embodiment of the apparatus according to the inven tion,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1, W

FIG. 3 is a detail of the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2, namely afilling platform shown to an enlarged scale as a side view and with anopened carton,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3 but with some details omitted,

FIG. 5 is a cross-section through a carton conveyor which conveys thefilled cartons,

FIG. 6 is a cross-section according to FIG. 5 of another position of thecarton conveyor,

FIG. 7 is one device of the invention as a side view arranged forcontinuous operation,

FIG. 8 is the magazine of the device according to FIG. 7 as a plan view,

FIG. 9 shows details of the blank conveyor of the device according toFIG. 7 as a plan view and to an enlarged scale,

FIG. 10 is a cross-section along the line X-X of FIG. 7.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention relate to the filling ofbottles 10 or a group 11 of such bottles 10 into a carton 12. To thisend, the carton 12 is constructed in conventional manner and comprisesside walls 13 and 14 joined to form a sleeve of enclosed cross-sectionand bottom flaps 15, 16, l7, 18 attached to the side walls 13 and 14 andcover flaps 19.

According to the method performed with the apparatus, the cartons l2,constructed in the manner described hereinabove, are unfolded from aflat, folded state, into the three-dimensional form, the bottom flaps15-18 as well as the cover flaps 19 extending downwardly and upwardly inthe plane of the side walls 13 and 14. The carton which is thus unfoldedis lowered by lowering over the group 11 of bottles which are preparedin the required formation until the side walls 13 and 14 surround thegroup 11. The bottom flaps 1518 are then folded against the underside ofthe bottles 10 thus producing the bottom of the carton 12. The coverflaps 19 are folded in suitable and known manner on the top of thebottles 10 for the purpose of completely closing the carton 12.

A substantial number of the cartons 12, which are folded flat, arestored in a magazine and are removed therefrom in accordance withrequirements. Removal and preparation of the cartons 12 for the fillingoperation is performed by a pivoting arm 21 which grips a carton 12 inthe zone of the side wall 13 which is outwardly disposed in themagazine. To this end, the free end of the pivoting arm 21 is providedwith a suction pad 22. The said suction pad grips the carton 12 in thezone of the side wall 13 and lowers it so that the gripped carton isreleased from retaining means 23 of the magazine 20. To this end thepivoting arm 21 is mounted on a bearing 24 which is vertically slidable.After the carton I2 is removed from the magazine, the said carton islocated by a stationary suction platen 70 which is disposed below themagazine 20 and on which the rear side wall 13 of the carton 12 bears.

After the flat carton 12 is lowered into the position indicated in FIGS.1 and 2 the carton is unfolded into its three-dimensional shape, namelyby pivoting of the pivoting arm through 90 from the position shown indash-dot lines in FIG. 1 into the position shown in solid lines. This isaccompanied by a parallel displacement of the carton walls relative toeach other. In the embodiment of the apparatus according to FIGS. 1 to6, the carton 12, unfolded into the three-dimensional shape illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2 is disposed over a group 11 of bottles which arestationary for a short period of time on a filling platform 25 and areheld in readiness thereon. The base area of the said filling platform 25is dimensioned so that the carton 12 may be traversed over the group 11by a downward motion, with the bottom flaps -18 downwardly orientated,that is to say in the plane of the side walls 13 and 14 in such a waythat the group 11 is surrounded by the side walls 13 and 14 while thebottom flaps 15-18 initially project downwardly (see also FIG. 3). Alowering conveyor with drivers 27 which grip the upper edge of thecarton 12 is provided for the downward motion of the unfolded carton 12.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the filling platform isdisposed in the zone of a carton conveyor 28 by means of which thefilled cartons 12 are intermittently conveyed. The filled cartons 12 areconveyed by laterally disposed feed belts 29 and 30 which have drivers31 disposed at distances from each other. The said drivers grip eachcarton by its rear.

The bottles 10 or the groups 11 respectively are supplied to the fillingplatform 25 by a bottle conveyor 32. In the illustrated embodiment thesaid bottle conveyor comprises circulating chains 33 and 34 which arecoupled to each other by driver bars 35 which grip the group 10.

The filling platform is constructed in a special manner. It comprises animmovable supporting part 36 and a movable supporting part 37. Bothsupporting parts 36 and 37 are formed by support bars 38 and 39respectively. The support bars 38 or 39 respectively of a supportingpart 36 or 37 respectively are joined to each other at one end by meansof a common cross member 40 or 41 respectively. The support bars 38 and39 of the two supporting parts 36 and 37 are also offset relative toeach other. The support bars (39 of the supporting part 36 extend intothe zone of the supporting part 37. The bottles 10 of the group 11 aredisposed on the support bars 38 and 39. The support bars 38 of thestationary supporting part 36 are downwardly extended and form arms 42and 43 which project to both sides. The ends of the said arms areprovided with notches 44. The notches 44 in these zones form groovesextending transversely over the filling platform 25 for receiving thelower edges of the transversely disposed bottom flaps 15 and 16 (FIG.3). The grooves formed by the notches 44 are provided for the temporarylocation of the said bottom flaps 15 and 16 after the carton 12 islowered.

The movable supporting part 37 is pivotably supported on a rocker 45(FIG. 3). The rocker 45, which is driven in reciprocating manner, movesthe supporting part 37 from and into the position shown in solid linesin FIG. 3 into and from the position shown in dash-dot lines. Duringthis motion, the supporting part 37 is guided by a roller 46 on a camtrack 47. The sup porting part 37 is guided in such a way that thesupport bars 39 are orientated at a downward angle in the unsupportedposition (dash-dot lines). This positive motion results from the supportpart 37 being pivotably supported on the rocker 45.

After the carton 12 is lowered into the position according to FIG. 3 thebottom flap 15 which trails in the conveying direction on the cartonconveyor 28, is folded, namely towards the underside of the bottles 10.A reciprocating folding nose 48 is provided to this end and is movedinto the zone below the filling platform 25 while moving the bottom flap15 from the notch 44 and folding it against the underside of the supportpart 37 (dash-dot line in FIG. 3).

Further folding of the bottom laps 16-18 takes place while the carton l2continues to be conveyed. The bottom flap 16, which leads in theconveying direction, is folded against the underside of the bottles 10during the continuing motion of the cartons 12 by running over astationary folding nose 49, the said bottles successively leaving thestationary filling platform 25 during this motion. Prior to or duringthe aforementioned conveying motion of the carton 12 the supporting part37 is moved from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 into theposition shown in dash-dot lines so that the bottom flap l5, initiallyfolded against the supporting part 37, is released and bears upon theunderside of the bottles 10. During the continued conveying motion, theleading edge of the bottom flap 15 passes over a chamfered portion 71 ofthe immovable supporting part 36 on to the latter until the carton l2completely leaves the filling platform 25. During this phase of theoperation, the supporting part 37 or its support bars 39 are disposed inan inclined position (dash-dot lines).

The lateral bottom flaps 17 and 18 in the zone of the filling platform25 are also folded during the conveying motion of the carton 12, namelyby stationary folding rails 50 and 51 which are disposed laterally withrespect to the carton conveyor 28. The said rails are formed in such away that they grip the outside of the initially downwardly orientatedbottom flaps 17 and 18 and gradually fold them into the horizontalclosed position during the continued motion.

Co-operation of a stationary support track 52 of the carton conveyor 28is provided to this end. As the conveying path and folding of the bottomflaps l7 and 18 increases, the supporting width of the supporting track52, supported by a middle web 53, becomes narrower until the saidsupporting track 52 finally completely disappears, namely when thebottom flaps 17 and 18 are folded until they bear completely upon thebottom flaps l5 and 16. Further support of the carton 12, which is nowprovided with a completed bottom, is then provided by the folding rails50 and 51.

The internal surfaces of the bottom flaps l7 and 18, which the foldedlast, are provided with an adhesive 54. This adhesive is applied bystationary spraying nozzles 55 on to the said surfaces while the carton12 is conveyed and the bottom flaps l7 and 18 are still downwardlyorientated.

The apparatus according to FIGS. 1 to 6 described so far operatesintermittently. By contrast, the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10permits the cartons 12 being continuously filled. This apparatus, shownas a diagrammatic side view in FIG. 7, is provided with a magazine forthe flat cartons 12, the construction and method of operation of thesaid magazine being very similar to that of the magazine 20 of FIGS. 1and 2 so that identical or equivalent parts of the apparatus areprovided with identical reference symbols. The threedimensional,unfolded cartons 12, delivered by the magazine 20 and moved downwardlyby the lowering conveyor 26 are however not directly transferred to thebottle group 11 which is held in readiness in the stationary state,instead the said cartons are transferred to a blank conveyor 56. Thepurpose of the carton conveyor 56 is to convey the unfolded carton 12 ina specific relative position, namely with vertically orientated wallswhile simultaneously and gradually lowering it on to a group 1 1 whichis also continuously conveyed. The conveying motion of the unfoldedcarton 12 is therefore precisely matched to the motion of thecontinuously conveyed group 11 in such a way that the open carton 12 isgradually lowered on to the group 11 during the conveying motion untilthe said group 11 is surrounded by the side walls 13 and 14.

In the illustrated embodiment the blank conveyor 56 comprisescontinuously circulating bar chains 57 and 58. The bar chains 57 and 58,which run over a plurality of reversing pulleys, are guided in paralleland at a distance from each other at least in the zone at which thecartons 12 are taken up and conveyed. A section 56a, extending at anangle, and a substantially horizontally extending section 56b are formedin the zone of which the cartons 12 are entrained either empty orfilled.

The blank conveyor 56 or its bar chains 57 and 58 respectively areprovided with means for gripping and driving a carton 12. As may be seenmore particularly by reference to FIG. 9 each bar chain 57, comprisingtwo chains disposed at a distance from each other and joined to eachother by means of bars, is provided in the zone of one bar 59 with twocarton holders 60 and 61 which are supported in axially sliding manneron the bar 59 and are biased towards each by means of a tension spring62. The free ends of the carton holders 60 and 61 are provided withlaterally extending noses 63 which facilitate introduction of the carton12 into the zone between two carton holder 60, 61. The minimum distancebetween the carton holders 60 and 61 is selected in such a way thatunder the action of the noses 63 an unfolded carton may be moved intothe clamped position shown in FIG. 9 between the carton holders 60 and61. Since both bar chains 57 and 58, which run superjacently at least inthe zones 56a and 56b of the blank conveyor 56, are provided with cartonholders 60 and 61 whose position relative to each other is defined, thecarton, which is taken up below the magazine 20 as may be seen byreference to FIG. 7, being exactly guided until transferred to the group11.

While the carton 12 is conveyed by the blank conveyor 56 the said carton12 is continuously lowered in the section 56a. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 7 the said lowering motion is assisted by stationaryslide runners 64 and 65 which are fixedly supported in the zone of thesections 560 and 56b above the carton conveyor 56. The inclined sliderunners 64 and 65 enter into the lateral gaps between the upwardlyprojecting cover flaps 19 of the carton while thrusting the latterpositively downwardly so that the carton 12 is held down in addition toits downward motion imparted by the blank conveyor 56 or by the cartonholders 60 and 61. Accordingly, the carton 12 is therefore loweredparticularly precisely on the group 11.

The bottle groups 11 and the filled cartons 12 are conveyed basically inthe same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6. The bottom flaps15 and 16 which lead and trail respectively in the conveying directionwhen the carton 12 is lowered on to the group 11 are however notinitially folded in this embodiment but they take up an approximatelyhorizontal position as may be seen by reference to FIG. 7. When thecartons are conveyed on the carton conveyor 28, the lateral bottom flapsl7 and 18 are first folded against the underside of the bottles 10 bythe stationary folding rails 50 and 51, the support track 57 of thecarton conveyor 28 becoming progressively narrower or disappearingrespectively with progressive folding of the bottom flaps 17 and 18 inthe manner already described.

After the lateral bottom flaps 17 and 18 are folded the carton 12is'conveyed to a packaging track 66 which extends approximately at rightangles to the incoming carton conveyor 28. The bottom flaps 15 and 16will then be disposed laterally with respect to the packaging track orlaterally adjacent to a support track 67 of the aforementioned packagingtrack 66. As the carton l2 continues to be conveyed on theaforementioned packaging track 66 the bottom flaps 17 and 18 are alsofolded in the manner described hereinabove by stationary lateral foldingrails 68 and 69, adhesive 54 being previously applied to the inside ofthe said flaps by means of spray nozzles 55.

The apparatus according to FIGS. 7 to 10 therefore operatescontinuously.

We claim:

1. In a device for packing groups of articles, for example, bottles incontainers of foldable material, more particularly cartons open at thebottom and having closing flaps to close the same, said device includinga horizontal conveyor on which the groups of articles to be packed arelocated during introduction into the containers; means for moving thecontainers and the groups of articles to be packed relative to oneanother during introduction of the groups bottles into the containers; amagazine for storing flat, collapsed containers located above thehorizontal conveyor; means for removing containers from the magazine andunfolding same; a stationary filling platform for a group of articles inthe plane of the horizontal conveyor; the improvements comprising: (a) astationary supporting part; (b) a movable supporting part (37) of thestationary filling platform (25) corresponding at least to the size of arearward bottom flap (15) of said carton and facing towards the same;(c) means to fold the rearward bottom flap (15) against the underside ofthe supporting part (37); (d) means to move said supporting part fromits supporting position into a position which is remote from therearward bottom flap (15) in such a way that the entire surface of thebottom flap (15) may be thrust against the underside of the group (11)of article to be packed; (e) means to transport packed groups ofarticles from said stationary filling platform to a storage station; and(f) a lowering conveyor which transports unfolded containers from themagazine to the groups of article to be packed.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the stationary fillingplatform (25) has an immovable supporting part (36) adjoining themovable supporting part (37) in the starting position thereof and achamfered portion on the side of the immovable supporting part (36)nearest to the movable supporting part, said chamfered portion (71)serving as an inlet ramp for the leading edge of the rearward bottomflap 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means to fold therearward bottom flap (15) comprises: (a) a folding nose (48)reciprocally mounted approximately at the level of the container bottom;(b) means to move said folding nose toward said supporting part (37) tobear against said rearward flap and fold same against said supportingpart (37).

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the movable supporting part(37) forms a rising surface in the conveying direction of the carton(12) when said movable part is retracted from the supporting position.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the movable supporting part(37 comprises a two armed lever having one end pivotably attached to oneend of a rocker lever (45) and a free end which bears on a cam track(47) by means of a roller (46).

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein a stationary folding nose (49)is mounted approximately at the level of the container bottom to bearagainst a forward flap of said container to fold said flap as saidcontainer is moved relative thereto.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means to transportpackaged groups of articles comprises: a) a carton conveyor (28); and b)stationary folding rails (50, 51) disposed on either side of saidconveyor to engage side flaps (17, 18) of the container to fold saidside flaps against the bottom of said carton as said carton istransported by said conveyor.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said carton conveyor has amiddle support track (52) for receiving the cartons (12), the horizontalwidth of the support surface of which becomes progressively narrower inthe conveying direction and terminating prior to complete folding of thebottom flaps (17, 18).

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein, of the bottom flaps whichproject downwardly beyond the group to be packed (11) the bottom flapswhich are leading and trailing in the conveying direction (15, 16) arefixed in the vertical position in transversely disposed grooves ornotches (44) below the filling platform 10. In a device for packinggroups of articles, for example, bottles in containers of foldablematerial, more particularly cartons open at the bottom and comprisingclosing flaps to close the same, said device including a horizontalconveyor on which the groups of articles to be packed are located duringintroduction into the containers; means for moving the containers andthe groups of articles to be packed relative to one another duringintroduction of the groups bottles into the containers; a magazine forflat, collapsed containers located above the horizontal conveyor; meansfor unfolding said containers, the improvements comprising: a) alowering conveyor to transport unfolded containers (12) from themagazine to a blank conveyor (56); b) a blank conveyor (56) to transportsaid unfolded containers (12) from said lowering conveyor to a group ofarticles (11) to be packed and lower said containers onto said group; 0)means to drive said blank conveyor in synchronism with said loweringconveyor; (1) means to fold the bottom flaps of said cartons againstsaid packed group of articles; and e) means to transport packed groupsof articles to a storage area.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said blank conveyor (56) hasat least one section (560) which traverses above a horizontal conveyor(32) adapted to supply the groups (11) to be packed in the conveyingdirection, downwardly at an angle to the plane of the horizontalconveyor (32).

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein a second section (56b)adjoining said at least one section of said blank conveyor (56)traverses in the plane of a container conveyor (28).

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said blank conveyor (56)comprises: (a) at least two endless conveyors on each side of thecontainer conveyor disposed at a vertical distance from each other, inthe zone of the said at least one and said second sections (56a, 56b);(b) bar members (59) connecting the corresponding endless conveyors oneach side of the container conveyor; and (c) retaining means forgripping and retaining the unfolded containers (l2) supplied to theblank conveyor (56).

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the retaining meanscomprises at least two container holders (60, 61) on each bar member,each of which may move laterally against surface of the container (l2).

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said container holders (60,61) are biased towards each other by means of a tension spring (62)which joins said holders and that the ends of the container holders (60,61) nearest to the container (12) are constructed as outwardly bentnoses (63) between which the prepared container (12) may be driven whilemoving the container holders apart.

16. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that the containerholders (60, 61) of the two endless conveyors are disposed vertically inthe region of the said at least one and said second sections (56a, 56b).

17. A device according to claim 10, wherein said means to fold thebottom flaps comprises: a) a container conveyor (28); b) a packagingtrack (66) adjoining said conveyor and which is oriented approximatelyat right angles to said carton conveyor (28); c) lateral folding rails(68, 69) disposed on both sides of said packaging track for folding thebottom flaps which were originally the leading and trailing bottom flaps(15, 16).

1. In a device for packing groups of articles, for example, bottles incontainers of foldable material, more particularly cartons open at thebottom and having closing flaps to close the same, said device includinga horizontal conveyor on which the groups of articles to be packed arelocated during introduction into the containers; means for moving thecontainers and the groups of articles to be packed relative to oneanother during introduction of the groups bottles into the containers; amagazine for storing flat, collapsed containers located above thehorizontal conveyor; means for removing containers from the magazine andunfolding same; a stationary filling platform for a group of articles inthe plane of the horizontal conveyor; the improvements comprising: (a) astationary supporting part; (b) a movable supporting part (37) of thestationary filling platform (25) corresponding at least to the size of arearward bottom flap (15) of said carton and facing towards the same;(c) means to fold the rearward bottom flap (15) against the underside ofthe supporting part (37); (d) means to move said supporting part fromits supporting position into a position which is remote from therearward bottom flap (15) in such a way that the entire surface of thebottom flap (15) may be thrust against the underside of the group (11)of article to be packed; (e) means to transport packed groups ofarticles from said stationary filling platform to a storage station; and(f) a lowering conveyor which transports unfolded containers from themagazine to the groups of article to be packed.
 2. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the stationary filling platform (25) has an immovablesupporting part (36) adjoining the movable supporting part (37) in thestarting position thereof and a chamfered portion on the side of theimmovable supporting part (36) nearest to the movable supporting part,said chamfered portion (71) serving as an inlet ramp for the leadingedge of the rearward bottom flap (15).
 3. A device according to claim 1,wherein said means to fold the rearward bottom flap (15) comprises: (a)a folding nose (48) reciprocally mounted approximately at the level ofthe container bottom; (b) means to move said folding nose toward saidsupporting part (37) to bear against said rearward flap and fold sameagainst said supporting part (37).
 4. A device according to claim 1,wherein the movable supporting part (37) forms a rising surface in theconveying direction of the carton (12) when said movable part isretracted from the supporting position.
 5. A device according to claim4, wherein the movable supporting part (37) comprises a two armed leverhaving one end pivotably attached to one end of a rocker lever (45) anda free end which bears on a cam track (47) by means of a roller (46). 6.A device according to claim 1, wherein a stationary folding nose (49) ismounted approximately at the level of the container bottom to bearagainst a forward flap of said container to fold said flap as saidcontainer is moved relative thereto.
 7. A device according to claim 1,wherein said means to transport packaged groups of articles comprises:a) a carton conveyor (28); and b) stationary folding rails (50, 51)disposed on either side of said conveyor to engage side flaps (17, 18)of the container to fold said side flaps against the bottom of saidcarton as said carton is transported by said conveyor.
 8. A deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein said carton conveyor has a middle supporttrack (52) for receiving the cartons (12), the horizontal width of thesupport surface of which becomes progressively narrower in the conveyingdirection and terminating prior to complete folding of thE bottom flaps(17, 18).
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein, of the bottom flapswhich project downwardly beyond the group to be packed (11) the bottomflaps which are leading and trailing in the conveying direction (15, 16)are fixed in the vertical position in transversely disposed grooves ornotches (44) below the filling platform (25).
 10. In a device forpacking groups of articles, for example, bottles in containers offoldable material, more particularly cartons open at the bottom andcomprising closing flaps to close the same, said device including ahorizontal conveyor on which the groups of articles to be packed arelocated during introduction into the containers; means for moving thecontainers and the groups of articles to be packed relative to oneanother during introduction of the groups bottles into the containers; amagazine for flat, collapsed containers located above the horizontalconveyor; means for unfolding said containers, the improvementscomprising: a) a lowering conveyor to transport unfolded containers (12)from the magazine to a blank conveyor (56); b) a blank conveyor (56) totransport said unfolded containers (12) from said lowering conveyor to agroup of articles (11) to be packed and lower said containers onto saidgroup; c) means to drive said blank conveyor in synchronism with saidlowering conveyor; d) means to fold the bottom flaps of said cartonsagainst said packed group of articles; and e) means to transport packedgroups of articles to a storage area.
 11. A device according to claim10, wherein said blank conveyor (56) has at least one section (56a)which traverses above a horizontal conveyor (32) adapted to supply thegroups (11) to be packed in the conveying direction, downwardly at anangle to the plane of the horizontal conveyor (32).
 12. A deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein a second section (56b) adjoining said atleast one section of said blank conveyor (56) traverses in the plane ofa container conveyor (28).
 13. A device according to claim 12, whereinsaid blank conveyor (56) comprises: (a) at least two endless conveyorson each side of the container conveyor disposed at a vertical distancefrom each other, in the zone of the said at least one and said secondsections (56a, 56b); (b) bar members (59) connecting the correspondingendless conveyors on each side of the container conveyor; and (c)retaining means for gripping and retaining the unfolded containers (12)supplied to the blank conveyor (56).
 14. A device according to claim 13,wherein the retaining means comprises at least two container holders(60, 61) on each bar member, each of which may move laterally againstsurface of the container (12).
 15. A device according to claim 14,wherein said container holders (60, 61) are biased towards each other bymeans of a tension spring (62) which joins said holders and that theends of the container holders (60, 61) nearest to the container (12) areconstructed as outwardly bent noses (63) between which the preparedcontainer (12) may be driven while moving the container holders apart.16. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that the containerholders (60, 61) of the two endless conveyors are disposed vertically inthe region of the said at least one and said second sections (56a, 56b).17. A device according to claim 10, wherein said means to fold thebottom flaps comprises: a) a container conveyor (28); b) a packagingtrack (66) adjoining said conveyor and which is oriented approximatelyat right angles to said carton conveyor (28); c) lateral folding rails(68, 69) disposed on both sides of said packaging track for folding thebottom flaps which were originally the leading and trailing bottom flaps(15, 16).